Holiday decorations are up. The crisp winter air sets in. It means one thing….FINALS ARE HERE! You’ve procrastinated all semester which means the only way you’re going to get through finals is by chugging massive amounts of coffee. We’re here to help =)

Starbucks @ Washington Square

This NYU-run Starbucks is a java powerhouse, with everything you love about Sbux in a convenient campus location and with plenty of places to sit to send emails or power-up before an exam. You can pay by Dining Dollars, Campus Cash, or by credit card

or cash.

Dunkin’ donuts @ 14th Street

Another NYU-operated franchise, use your meal-plan and swipe a meal for a breakfast sandwich and a medium coffee, or numerous other combination meals. You can also pay by Dining Dollars, Campus Cash, or by credit card or cash.

Think Coffee

Just around the corner from Founders, on 4th Ave, is your hipster-coffee source. The rustic, feigned grunge and indie/folk music creates a warm environment and a great place to sit and read (drawback: no WiFi at this location). They serve up the usual breakfast items, although the bagel PB&J option is highly recommended. Other locations include: inside the NYU bookstore, Mercer St. btwn 3rd and 4th (on campus), and Bleeker

at Bowery.

At-Home Coffee

• Drip coffee: this is a great option for a normal brew, and most makers have a schedule feature for automatic brewing each morning.

•French press: arguably the best way to brew coffee, this process entails brewing the coffee grind and water mixture for several minutes, before filtering out the grind and leaving behind a strong coffee solution.

•Espresso pot: espresso is a hyper-concentrate of the coffee solution, often mixed with milk to produce lattés and cappuccinos, although many like to sip it straight up. This process generally requires heavy machinery, although a very simple and effective option is the espresso pot (requires a stovetop , so this is a good option for sophomore year).

Caffeine

Caffeine, a crystalline xanthine alkaloid, is the world’s most popular psychoactive substance. At an estimated 120,000 tonnes per year, this is an equivalency of one serving of coffee per day, per world capita. Caffeine is a central nervous system and metabolic stimulant, enhancing norepinephrine receptors and blocking adenosine receptors to delay fatigue. Caffeine increases alertness, delays fatigue, and produces mild cortical arousal. Sources of caffeine include: coffee (Coffea arabica), tea (Camellia sinensis), chocolate (Theobroma cacao), and the cola nut (Cola

acuminata).

Caffeine Overuse

Caffeinism: the overuse of caffeine—in high doses and/or use over an extended period of time—can lead to unpleasant physical and mental conditions. Symptoms include: nervousness, irritability, tremors, muscle twitches (hyperreflexia), insomnia, headaches, and heart palpitations. Moreover, caffeine increases stomach acid production, which may lead to stomach ulcers and acid reflux.

It is possible to overdose on caffeine, thus general caution should be exercised when consuming caffeinated beverages.